Postgame Thoughts: Hawks at Sixers

Saturday, December 22, 2012

By Micah Hart

Some thoughts coming up on the Hawks’ 99-80 loss to the Sixers in Philadelphia Friday night:

— The Hawks are in a bit of a shooting slump right now. Since shooting 57.3% in the win over the Bobcats last week, they’ve shot 36.9%, 43.6%, 38.3, and 38.7 in their last four games. Not surprisingly, they’ve gone 1-3 in that span. Is it just a matter of good shots failing to drop, or does the team have some issues to sort out?

— No surprise to see the Sixers turn it up in this game, after they suffered their worst loss of the season Wednesday night in Houston, falling 125-103 to the Rockets. You knew their egos were bruised and that they’d give max effort tonight, and it showed. Former Georgia Tech product Thaddeus Young was particularly effective for Philadelphia, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals.

— Larry Drew once again saw the writing on the wall down the stretch and found some good minutes for rookies John Jenkins and Mike Scott, and both of whom showed flashes of their talents. Jenkins in particular had the hot hand, scoring 8 points in the last 4:45 on 3-3 from the field. With Devin Harris day to day with a foot injury, perhaps we’ll see a little more from him in the near future.

The Hawks kept it close in the first half, but every time they’d make a run to make it a game the Sixers would turn around and stretch the lead back out.

Look for the team to regroup and come out with energy and intensity tomorrow night against the Bulls at Philips Arena.